Mexico Beach sits on the eastern end of Bay County, bordering Gulf County. According to Shoaf, tourism is the town's largest economic driver, so its busiest months are during summer. That said, peak season crowds in Mexico Beach during summer still are nothing like those in other nearby larger destination cities like Panama City Beach.

Odds of development are increasing with this disturbance near FL, and a tropical depression or storm could form sometime later in the week. Next name on the list is #Dexter. The good news is, it's headed west—into the Gulf and away from the Carolinas. pic.twitter.com/m3s4KQ6Hqe

"2025 has been the year of the flood," said WPLG-TV meteorologist Michael Lowry in a July 15 email to USA TODAY. "The tragic July 4th flooding in central Texas – the deadliest flash flood in at least 50 years in the U.S. – punctuated what’s been an especially bad year for flooding across the country."

For John B. Anderson, the Gulf Coast is personal. The W. Maurice Ewing Professor Emeritus of Oceanography at Rice University spent his early years on Alabama's Fort Morgan Peninsula, where his father was a party boat fisherman.

St. Pete Beach Fire Rescue said a teenage girl was transported to a nearby medical center after the bolt. Two other adult victims were treated for injuries on scene.

A coastal Mississippi city is getting national recognition as one of the best places in the country for retirees to call home. HGTV has named Gulfport one of the top 10 beach towns in the United States for retirement, citing its affordability, quality of life and laid-back Gulf Coast atmosphere.

West Coast, Best Coast? Florida’s Gulf Coast is showing off this summer, with circus-themed stays in Sarasota, luxurious new suites in Clearwater Beach, and nightly sunsets that outshine the last.

Rockport Beach in Texas is known for its gentle waves, walkable sand, and family-friendly atmosphere. It has been rated one of the top 10 Most Breathtaking Beaches In Texas and was named the first "Blue Wave" beach in the state.